Safety device for pocket-books.



D. T. LYNCH.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR POCKET BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, I916.

, 1 ,1230338. Patented June 19, 1917.

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DENNIS THOMAS LYNCH, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR POCKET-BOOKS.

Specification'of Letters Patent. PatentedJune li), 1917.

Application filed June 17,1916. Serial Nb.104,207.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DENNIS T. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the countyof Bronx andState of New York, have invented a new and Improved Safety Device for Pocket-Books, of

which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to safety devices and particularly to an improved construction which is especially adapted for use in the pocket for holding a pocketbook or wallet in place and against unauthorized or accidental removal.

The object in view is to provide a simple strong construction which may be connected or fastened to a pocket at one end while the other end merely engages the pocket and resists removal. j

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a safety device from a pair of telescoping tubular members and resilient means'for separating these tubular members whereby the device will press against opposite sides of the pocket and thereby resist removal and resist any dislodgmentofthe wallet or other article connected therewith.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is afragmentary view of a coat showinga pocket and-anembodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section through 2-2.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1 the same being on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4: is a section through Fig. 3 on line 44.

Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. t on line 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary side view with a certain part broken away, of a slightly modified form" of safety device.

7 F7ig. 7 is a section through Fig. 6 on line Referring to the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 on line by numerals, 1 indicates a garment of any desired. kind, provided with a pocket 2 adapted to receive the wallet 3, which wallet is designed to be held in place by the safety device or looking member 4. The safety de vice or locking member 1 is formed in two principal parts, namely, the body 5 and the sliding member 6. Preferably these parts are made oval as shown in Fig. 5, so that one part will not rotate within the other. The

' body 5 is formed tubular and provided with apertures 7 and 8 designed to receive at different times the ball 9 carried by spring 10,

said ball tending to enter the respective apertures whenever brought opposite the same so as to hold the section 6 either in an outer position or an inner position. A spring 11 is provided which presses against the closed end 12 of section 6 for'urging the section 6 outwardly, said spring resting on a suitable shoulder 13 formed adjacent one end of body 5. Part of the body 5 is formed with an extension 1 1 merginginto a jaw 15 which coacts with a movable jaw 16 on the pivotally mounted member 17, said member being pivotally mounted in position by pin 18. Spring 18 surrounding pin 18 acts on jaw 16 for causing the jaw 16 to press resiliently against jaw 15. Members 1 1 and 17 and associated parts forma clasp which is;

adapted to bite into or pinch the pocket 2, as shown more particularly. in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the safety device cannot be removed until this structure is released. Section 6 is preferably formed tubular and is provided then the wallet 3 is slidingly fitted over the device, after which the parts are moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 and section 6 released by forcing the ball 9 out of aperture 7 if that has not already been done, so that the rubber member 19 is pressed against the opposite side of the pocket to that en gaged by the clasp. This will prevent an accidental or unauthorized removal of the wallet but will permit a ready removal by an authorized person upon the inward sliding movement of section 6, said inward movement being for a short distance or until the ball 9 engages aperture 7 as preferred. After section 6 has been moved inwardly the parts are swung upwardly so that the wallet 3 may be removed from the top of the pocket.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown in which the parts are formed round. In order that these parts may not rotate independently the body 5 is provided with a pressed-up portion 21 whereby an internal groove is presented, and section 6 is provided with a pressed-up portion forming a bead fitting into the groove.

parts are in the pocket.

'to enter aperture 7 short distance into the tubular part of meInbet '6. The rubber member'23 is also formed with a roughened portion or notches 25 similar to the roughened portion 20. The aperture 8 and ball 9 are intended to prevent the accidental removal of member 6 though ordinarily ball 9 is not positioned in aperture 8 when the parts are in use as shown in Fig. 1, but the ball is somewhere between aperture 8 and aperture 7. The aperture 7 is arranged so near the end of the member 5 that the ball 9 will not enter the aperture unless section 6 is forced into the wallet 3, which could not readily be done when the In case an unauthorized person should attempt to press the section 6 inwardly in order to remove the Wallet it could be done but the rubber 20 would not release its contact upon the pocket I as the section 6 would return to its outer position as soon as released, because an unauthorized person could notmove the section 6 inwardly sufiiciently far to allow the ball 9 What I claim is:

1. In a safety device of the character described, a pair of telescoping members, a clasp arrraged at one end of said telescoping members for gripping one side of a pocket when the device is in use, and a friction member at the opposite end of said telescoping members for frictionally engaging the opposite side of said pocket.

2. In a safety device for wallets, a tubular 7 body, a. spring arranged in said body, a tubular section telescopically fitting said body, said spring continually urging said section in a given direction, a locking member for locking said tubular section in an inner and an outer position at will, and means arranged on the free ends of said body and said section for engaging a pocket when the device is in use. g V. p

3. In a safety device for wallets, a tubular body formed with an extension merging into a jaw presenting part of a clasp, a movable member pivotally mounted on said extension and provided with a jaw, a spring for acting on said movable member for causing the same to press resiliently against the first mentioned jaw, a telescoping member arranged in said tubular member, and a spring for urging said telescoping member in a direction away from said clasp.

4. A. safety device for wallets, comprising a tubular body having a pair of apertures therein, a clasp arranged in one end of said body, the opposite end of said body being open, a spring arranged in said body, a shoulder arranged in said body adjacent said clasp for limiting the movement of said spring in one direction, a tubular section having a closed end fitting into said body, said closed end pressing againstsaid spring, a spring-pressed ball projecting from said tubular member and adapted to snap into either of said apertures and lock the tubular member against movement, and a friction member arranged at the outer or free end of the tubular member.

DENNIS THOMAS LYNCH.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

